I am taking part in a research project in my post-bacc nursing program which is looking at the history of nursing uniforms, as well as asking the question, "Should nurses return to wearing uniforms?" We are surveying nurses at a local hospital to get an idea of our area nurses' opinions; but would also like to get a wider variety of responses.
So, if you'd like to be part of this discussion, please answer the following:
1. How long have you been a nurse?
2. In what field of nursing are you working (I.e. long term care, acute care, rehab, etc.)?
3. Where geographically are you located?
4. What is your level of training? (I.e., ADN, LPN, CNA, BSN, masters or higher education level, CNP, CRNA, etc.)
5. Do you think nurses should return to wearing a uniform? Why or why not?
***to clarify-- By "uniform", I mean a move away from scrubs, to a uniform style that would be recognized across regions as belonging to "nursing". This could include the "all-white" uniform, or nursing caps. Whatever it would be, the standard would be set by the nursing profession, for all professionals to follow***
6. If you think nurses should return to a uniform, what type of uniform do you think nurses should wear?
I agree with clerical staff wearing office dress and other staff wearing a different type of uniform; I used to work in a large clinic where everyone wore scrubs; the receptionists, the patient accounts supe wore a labcoat, film librarians wore scrubs--patients could not differentiate between ancillary staff and medical personnel. I don't have a problem with whites, I usually wear them now with a printed jacket if I like. I even iron mine and am constantly teased about my "crispy uniforms". Sorry, much as I loved "Julia" and and her nurse cap. I would be bothered by a cap.
I do have two pairs of white pants. One of them has readymade, stitched creases on the front. I've got complimented as looking sharp while wearing them to my hospital volunteering job. I have printed tops, a navy top, and colored pants as well. I do like white pants sometimes with a white, printed top. But I like to be in variety of colors and my white pants tend to get dirty. :)
We want to change our uniforms from tunic and trousers to a more casual attire, can you let me know any usefull web sites, or research that could help our cause.
Nurse for 7 yrs. RNC in inpatient OB, work L&D floor, have ADN. Live in NJ.
In my hosp the RNs all wear navy blue scrubs except for L&D and the OR. In L&D we wear the blue OR scrubs and the OR wears green OR scrubs. The nurses aides and orderlies wear gray. This is how they tell who's who, although they need to give out a "key" of some sort to the patients so THEY know who is who!
* I have been an RN for two years.
*I have worked in critical care since graduation, specifically a CCU.
*Pacific Northwest.
*BSN
*I am with hellerd2003 on this one. I think of scrubs as a uniform. I too have the luxery to wear whatever colors I choose (well not whatever, we had one RN who work cow printed scrubs to work and that didn't go over well at all!).
Personally, I like to stick to darker colors-black, navy, cecil blue, purple...those seem to be my basics. I can think of another type of outfit that would be as comfortable to wear for 12 hours. I am not a fan at all of white. It looks good on hardly anybody, it gets dirty, and you can see through it. I suppose I could wear a white top but white pants are definately out for me. I am going to have to say no on caps too...the last thing I need is something on my head while I am running around trying to keep a sterile field or code someone...
I see your point in trying to distinguish nurses from other hospital personnel...however, most people wear scrubs because of how well they fit the job, IMHO. It is true that everyone in the hospital wears them though, and the different personnell do look the same. I think that we just have to be good with our introductions. Hi I am Jane...your nurse for the day. We have white boards up in the rooms on our floors that give the name of the RN, the CNA, etc...I am interested to hear other people's new uniform ideas, but I am not a big fan of going back to "the old way".
I have been an RN for 8 yrs, ADN, from PA. I work in ED and IFT. In the ED we wear out choice of scrubs, as an IFT(PHRN)I wear a duty uniform. Blue duty pants and shirt. We have 2 nurses in the hospital where I work who still wear white uniforms, very difficult to find-all you see are white scrub dresses, and if you do find-they are expensive. I don't wear a cap=still have mine-another hospital I worked at did a study regarding I guess you would call it the cleanliness of caps. And boy were they filthy-even though they looked white as can be. Have not seen caps in this area except for nursing graduations. I do not care what kind of scrubs I wear but white is not it, especially in the ED. My hospital may be going to some type of "color coding" atleast trying to-not sure what union response will be.
ASN in nursing,BA Psychology,MS Counseling Education,BSN confering
We can wear whatever color scrub we want to wear....thank god....I wear black with gold lettering of my name,title and unit emboidered on the tops. I also wear a name badge,in addition,when i go in to see my patients i make it a point to tell them ...my name,and I am their nurse tonight as well as I am the charge nurse on the unit...That is my uniform.....we have uniforms....working in an ICU is hard work and I want to be comfortable and the clothes functional,hats.....no thanks,but I don't begrudge anyone that wants to wear theirs.....I know of one RN in the hospital that wears white,dresses,and hat etc......the rest well....we do the scrub thing.....
I have been a nurse for 12 years, I work in a small hospital and do both ER and Med-surg. I am and ADN, within 4 classes of my BSN-MSN. I am from Missouri. And I wholeheartedly love white. I wear blue and white in the ER, and white in Med-surg. If you keep your uniforms up they stay white. I do it, it can be done, I probably sound like a meany but I am not I am very proud of being an RN, and think we should do what it takes to stand out visually for our patients and each other. Everyone but admin, and maint. in our hospital wears scrubs, but only nurses RNs and LPNs usually wear white. While I am at it let me throw in my two cents worth about nametags!!!! Several nurses in our hospital (and other folks too) put all manner of stuff all over their nametags, if I didn't already know who and what they were I sure couldn't figure it out, and I have normal vision and am not ill. Imagine what trouble sick, injured people, or just mixed up people have figuring out what we are. Well ope that helps your poll and by the way thanks for letting me vent. Particular
Amen.................Plus when they do have them on, and there is not stickers all over them, they are turned the other way. I went on an interview for management last month and I mentioned about the name tags because everyone I was introduced to had the tag in a different place on thier body and the tag was on a lanyard and turned over so no one could see it. I mentioned this to the ANM and was told. it's ok, the badges are a pain and we always introduce ourselves. OK, what is wrong with this picture? If I were sick, and the nameboard at the foot of the bed was not kept up, like many are'nt and I could not see your name tag and I was medicated on top of that, I would not feel too comfortable. I only hope I have a good memory for names and faces...........
2. In what field of nursing are you working (i.e. long term care, acute care, rehab, etc.)? OB/GYN Clinic and Hospital (usually)
3. Where geographically are you located? NY presently
4. What is your level of training?
Maters of Science
CNM
5. Do you think nurses should return to wearing a uniform? Why or why not?
The scrub HAS become our uniform.
I think question is not so much a uniform, but identification.
How can a patient separate the RN from, say, the housekeeper or the unit clerk or office manager.
BIG name tags will do that - along with strict procedure of introduction - Hello I am your RN today and restrictions on attire - housekeeping wears housekeeping uniform, unit clerk wears appropriate business casual etc.
The better hospitals do this.
The worse ones won't even put last names on nametags, much less skill level.
6. If you think nurses should return to a uniform, what type of uniform do you think nurses should wear?
I DO wear a uniform every day. I am identified wherever I go. BUT, I am not my uniform. My uniform does not define me. It is NOT the way to go.
2. In what field of nursing are you working (i.e. long term care, acute care, rehab, etc.)? OB/GYN Clinic and Hospital (usually)
3. Where geographically are you located? NY presently
4. What is your level of training?
Maters of Science
CNM
5. Do you think nurses should return to wearing a uniform? Why or why not?
The scrub HAS become our uniform.
I think question is not so much a uniform, but identification.
How can a patient separate the RN from, say, the housekeeper or the unit clerk or office manager.
BIG name tags will do that - along with strict procedure of introduction - Hello I am your RN today and restrictions on attire - housekeeping wears housekeeping uniform, unit clerk wears appropriate business casual etc.
The better hospitals do this.
The worse ones won't even put last names on nametags, much less skill level.
6. If you think nurses should return to a uniform, what type of uniform do you think nurses should wear?
I DO wear a uniform every day. I am identified wherever I go. BUT, I am not my uniform. My uniform does not define me. It is NOT the way to go.
Having been stalked I don't want my last name on my badge.
Introducing myself as an RN is enough..Acting like one helps too.
I've been a nurse three years, mostly in long term care, in knoxville TN, I'm a LPN, where I work we wear a uniform, our scrubs have to be specific color and style.
I have worked many different places...first as a CNA for a short while, then hospital LPN for many years and now a RN, ADN, for a couple years. Total: 15 years. Type of job: Hospital. hmpft! Thought I commented on this and I guess I never did. I don't like the old style all-white getups, although if people want to wear them, that's fine. I like comfortable and sometimes fun-fashionable scrubs. I DO think there needs to be a system to more easily distinguish between the nurses vs ancillary staff. In my new facility where I am soon to start, they use a certain color scrubs for the nurses which the aides do not wear....So, we are required to wear those colors. The color is different for each unit.
I am not currently a nurse..but I am planning on going to nursing school this fall.
About the hats...
Personally the caps seems really outdated to me...and wouldnt be practical. My hair is a couple steps above being completely buzzed...so securing one on my head would be pretty interesting. Not to mention I view them as being rather demeaning in this day in age....however thats just my opinion. :)
name tags and personal introductions are a great way to identify nurses. hats are a disease petri dish depending on where you work. i clean my name tag, and stethoscope after each shift, how many people will dry clean their hats after every shift? Not realistic.
Kitkat23
63 Posts
I do have two pairs of white pants. One of them has readymade, stitched creases on the front. I've got complimented as looking sharp while wearing them to my hospital volunteering job. I have printed tops, a navy top, and colored pants as well. I do like white pants sometimes with a white, printed top. But I like to be in variety of colors and my white pants tend to get dirty. :)